Muslims Face a Ramadan Like Never Before Amid Pandemic
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SHAABAN 28, 1441 AH TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020 20 Pages Max 31º Min 22º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18112 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Muslims face a Ramadan like never before amid pandemic Mideast braces for bleak fasting month as virus threat lingers CAIRO/JAKARTA/RIYADH: Days before the holy fasting month of Ramadan begins, the Islamic world is 2 deaths, 80 new grappling with an untimely paradox of the new coronavirus pandemic: Enforced separation at a time when cases; Hashem socializing is almost sacred. The holiest month in the Islamic calendar is one of wants expats out family and togetherness - community, reflection, charity and prayer. But with By B Izzak shuttered mosques, coronavirus cur- fews and bans on mass prayers from Senegal to Southeast Asia, some 1.8 bil- KUWAIT: The health ministry yesterday lion Muslims are facing a Ramadan like reported 80 new coronavirus (COVID-19) never before. infections in the last 24 hours, bringing total Across the Muslim world the pan- infections to 1,995, while two deaths were demic has generated new levels of anx- reported, bringing the total fatalities to nine. iety ahead of the holy fasting month, During its daily briefing, Health Ministry which begins on Friday. In Algiers, Spokesperson Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad said 39 Yamine Hermache, 67, usually receives patients are in intensive care, 26 of them are in relatives and neighbors at her home for critical condition. tea and cold drinks during the month Those currently receiving treatment at hos- that Muslims fast from dusk till dawn. pitals reached 1,619 patients, Sanad said. The But this year she fears it will be differ- new death cases are of a 49-year-old ent. “We may not visit them, and they Bangladeshi male and a 55-year-old Indian CAIRO: Egyptians look at traditional lanterns known in Arabic as “fawanees” sold for the holy month of Ramadan in the will not come,” she said, weeping. “The male - both were receiving treatment in inten- Sayeda Zainab neighborhood on Sunday. — AFP coronavirus has made everyone afraid, sive care units. Earlier yesterday, Health even of distinguished guests.” Minister Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah announced out taraweeh,” he said, referring to with neighboring Arab countries, is From Africa to Asia, the coronavirus In a country where mosques have the recovery of 62 patients, bringing the total to additional prayers performed at expected to announce a fatwa outlining has cast a shadow of gloom and uncer- been closed, her husband Mohamed 367 recoveries. mosques after iftar, the evening meal in what Ramadan rituals will be permitted, tainty. Millions are locked down across Djemoudi, 73, worries about something Continued on Page 16 which Muslims break their fast. In but for millions of Muslims, it already the Middle East - from Saudi Arabia else. “I cannot imagine Ramadan with- Jordan the government, in coordination feels so different. Continued on Page 16 2 Local Tuesday, April 21, 2020 Home quarantine procedures approved by health minister local spotlight Symptomatic citizens transferred to institutional quarantine Wellbeing amidst the pandemic By Sadie Hussain ith more than 20 percent of the world’s population on lockdown, it goes without Wsaying that the outbreak of COVID-19 or the “Pandemic” has impacted us all in different ways and on varying scales. Feelings of fear, anxiety and dejection as a result of the constant alerts and cover- age surrounding the spread are understandable. This is an unprecedented scenario; stress and the feelings associated with it are by no means a reflection of your adequacy. In fact, feeling under pressure may be a KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti national shows the tracking bracelet provided by authorities as likely experience for you and many of your loved she leaves the Kuwait International Airport upon her return as part of a repatriation Kuwaiti nationals leave the Kuwait International Airport upon their return as part ones. Managing your psychosocial wellbeing during plan on Sunday, and ahead of being taken to mandatory home quarantine. of a repatriation plan Sunday.— Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat this time is just as important as managing your phys- ical health. KUWAIT: Minister of Health Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah Many, if not all of us, have heard the important rule issued a ministerial decision Sunday to adopt the nec- News in brief on flight safety “put on your own oxygen mask before essary mechanism to implement “home quarantine pro- helping others.” This is just an example to remind us cedures”, in a manner that ensures the preservation of of the importance of self-care. If you cannot take Special flights to Europe health and safety to all. The decision is within the frame- care of yourself, you cannot take care of others in- work of efforts and measures taken by the ministry to cluding your loved ones. By incorporating certain ac- KUWAIT: Kuwait continues to offer limited out- confront the spread of coronavirus, known as COVID- tivities into our daily lives, we offer our body and 19. The mechanism, according to the decision paper, in- bound flights to expatriates wishing to go home. mind the time to rest, reset, and rejuvenate; so to cludes procedures to be followed by the person in home Kuwait Airways announced it will operate special avoid the symptoms of stress and anxiety. The fol- quarantine. flights to London on April 20-21, 2020 - exclu- lowing may be practiced to support and enhance One of the main aspects of the decision is to ensure sively for UK nationals/residents and EU citizens wellbeing, particularly during this time. choosing a separate room from the rest of the family, - and special flights to Geneva on April 21, 2020 - preferably a separate floor, with a separate bathroom, exclusively for EU citizens. The one way flight Responsible contribution and if a separate bathroom is not available, a shared costs around KD 252,75. As for Qatar Airways, Be mindful not to act in ways that contribute to the bathroom must be cleaned after each use. Among the 42 were transferred to compulsory institutional quaran- two daily flights from Kuwait to selected destina- widespread panic. This hinders all efforts in managing procedures also is making sure to open windows, venti- tine on suspicion of coronavirus symptoms, while 1,187 tions via Doha, will leave Kuwait till May 30, 2020. the outbreak. One groundless act could lead to sensa- lating the room continuously, not mixing with the rest of were converted to home quarantine. Health Ministry’s tionalizing the issues that are being faced worldwide. the family at home, refraining from receiving visitors and Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs and Gen- Rather, ensure you are following directives issued not leaving the quarantine area. In the event of any med- eral Supervisor of Medical Examination Centers at by the Kuwaiti government and medical officials. Your ical emergency, those in quarantine can call the desig- Kuwait International Airport Dr Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi contribution starts in observing and maintaining good nated number from by ministry, which is (151). affirmed that four cases were transferred to complete Hunger strike hygiene habits and adhering to the curfew. Focus on Usage of phone is essential when you need to com- their treatment in the hospitals for other health reasons. other positive contributions that you can make, such municate with anyone at home, including responding to Mutairi stated that the total number of citizens who were KUWAIT: Responding to a video posted on Twit- as limiting your exposure to others. Consider your emails for daily follow-up regarding health symptoms on the first 11 evacuation flights amounted to 1,233. ter showing some of the Egyptians accommodated self-isolation as an act of love. and temperature and not to share your personal belong- Kuwait Airways on Sunday operated a total 12 flights in Kabd pending evacuation, who had been al- ings with anyone, and ensure that it is clean and steril- to bring overseas nationals back to Kuwait due to the Media exposure legedly on hunger strike for two days in an attempt ized. The procedures emphasized the continuous outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) world- In a digital age, with instant access to information to force the Egyptian embassy to act and accel- sterilization of surfaces and door handles, not sharing wide. The incoming flights, which are part of a three-day in the palm of our hands, it is difficult to escape the erate returning them to Egypt, Kuwait Times con- towels with other people at home. The procedures, repatriation plan, include three from Riyadh, three from threat of the Pandemic residing in your thoughts. tacted an official at the embassy to inquire about among other things, also focused on eating separately Manama, two from each Abu Dhabi and Dubai and one Whilst it is great to stay informed, manage your expo- the incident. The Egyptian embassy official said: and not with the family members. The minister’s decision from each Muscat and Doha. The national carrier stands sure to media coverage in order to avoid obsessing and “Only a few of the Egyptians went on hunger also stressed ensuring that adequate medical supplies properly prepared for the “grand repatriation” process reaching pointless speculation as this can unwittingly strike for just an hour. It is over now and we are are available at home in the event of suffering from a since it has harnessed all its energies to bring in Kuwaiti increase feelings of fear and anxiety. Living in a con- fully confident in the measures taken by our broth- chronic illness. nationals abroad, the airline’s Board Chairman Yousef stant state of stress where you cannot stop thinking of ers in the Kuwaiti ministry of interior.” The decision also highlighted procedures that must Al-Jassem said in a statement.